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Introduction:
“Paul’s letter to
the church at Galatia defending his
interpretation of the gospel of Christ.
Paul’s heated defense of justification by
faith and freedom in the Spirit has endeared
this epistle to all who hold such to be the
living core of the Christian faith. From the
time of Jesus the sufficiency of faith alone
for salvation has been a major issue among
Christians. The issue initially came to the
forefront in Paul’s day when Gentiles
believed in Jesus Christ. Must the Gentiles
become a part of the Jewish faith to be
fully Christian? Certain Jewish Christians,
called Judaizers, said that the Gentiles
must also obey the law of Moses and be
circumcised to be saved. Paul declared that
the Gentiles’ faith in Jesus, apart from the
Jewish faith, was sufficient for salvation.”
[Holman Bible Dictionary].
The Authority of the Apostle Paul and Glory
of the Gospel
Paul’s
warning to those who believe in a false
gospel.
Galatians 1:6-9, “I am
astonished that you are so quickly deserting
him who called you in the grace of Christ
and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not
that there is another one, but there are
some who trouble you and want to distort the
gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an
angel from heaven should preach to you a
gospel contrary to the one we preached to
you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said
before, so now I say again: If anyone is
preaching to you a gospel contrary to the
one you received, let him be accursed.”
Paul’s message of the
gospel came straight for Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:11-12, “For I would have you
know, brothers, that the gospel that was
preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I
did not receive it from any man, nor was I
taught it, but I received it through a
revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul went to the other Apostles to confirm
the gospel he preached.
Galatians 2:1-2, “Then after fourteen years
I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up
because of a revelation and set before them
(though privately before those who seemed
influential) the gospel that I proclaim
among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I
was not running or had not run in vain.”
No one needs to keep the Old
Covenant Law to be a Christian.
Galatians 2:3-5, “But even Titus, who was
with me, was not forced to be circumcised,
though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of
false brothers secretly brought in—who
slipped in to spy out our freedom that we
have in Christ Jesus, so that they might
bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not
yield in submission even for a moment, so
that the truth of the gospel might be
preserved for you.” (cf. Acts 11:29-30; 15:1-28)
The Apostles
accepted Paul and Barnabas as fellow
Apostles with the mission of reaching the
Gentiles.
Galatians 2:6-10,
“And from those who seemed to be influential
(what they were makes no difference to me;
God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who
seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On
the contrary, when they saw that I had been
entrusted with the gospel to the
uncircumcised, just as Peter had been
entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
8 (for he who worked through Peter for his
apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked
also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9
and when James and Cephas and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace
that was given to me, they gave the right
hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that
we should go to the Gentiles and they to the
circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to
remember the poor, the very thing I was
eager to do.”
The Apostle Peter(Cephas) was swayed
by the Judaizers to separate from the
Gentiles until Paul called him out for his
hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:11-14,
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed
him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For before certain men came from James,
he was eating with the Gentiles; but when
they came he drew back and separated
himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13
And the rest of the Jews acted
hypocritically along with him, so that even
Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that their conduct was not
in step with the truth of the gospel, I said
to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a
Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew,
how can you force the Gentiles to live like
Jews?” (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Note:
“After the earlier meeting in Jerusalem
(Galatians 2:1-10), the behavior of Peter in
Antioch was contradictory and hypocritical
(Galatians 2:12, 13). Given Peter’s immense
influence, Paul had little choice but to
point out the hypocrisy directly (Galatians 2:11, 14). Paul confronted Peter because refusing
to eat with the Gentiles contradicted what
Peter had long since recognized, that the
gospel was for the Gentiles too (see Peter’s
interaction with Cornelius’ family, Acts 11:7-10). Certain men came from James
indicates that they came with the authority
of James, one of the leaders of the
Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9). However, it is
unlikely that they accurately represented
the views of James (Galatians 2:7-10).” [Nelson’s
NKJV Study Bible: Galatians 2:11-12].
God’s people are justified by faith
in Jesus Christ alone, not by keeping the
Law.
Galatians 2:15-16, “We
ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile
sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not
justified by works of the law but through
faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have
believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be
justified by faith in Christ and not by
works of the law, because by works of the
law no one will be justified.”
Note: The law is not
sinful; its purpose is to convince everyone
that they are spiritually dead in their sin
apart from faith in Christ (see Romans 7:7-13).
A true Christian has
to die to the law.
Galatians 2:19, “For through the law I died to the
law, so that I might live to God.”
We live by faith in Jesus Christ
alone. He died so we could have new life.
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me. And the life I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me.”
The law actually
frustrates grace.
Galatians 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness were through the law,
then Christ died for no purpose.”
It is foolishness to go
back under the law after embracing faith.
The legalists act as if they are under an
evil spell.
Galatians 3:1-2, “O
foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It
was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was
publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me
ask you only this: Did you receive the
Spirit by works of the law or by hearing
with faith?”
The law brings a curse on everyone
who fails to keep it perfectly.
Galatians 3:10, “For all who rely on works
of the law are under a curse; for it is
written, “Cursed be everyone who does not
abide by all things written in the Book of
the Law, and do them.” (c.f. Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 10:5; James 2:8-10).
Christ redeemed us from the law’s
curse.
Galatians 3:13, “Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us — for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
The Law was added 430 years
after Abraham.
Galatians 3:17,
“This is what I mean: the law, which came
430 years afterward, does not annul a
covenant previously ratified by God, so as
to make the promise void.”
God’s promise comes to us by faith,
not by keeping the law.
Galatians 3:18, “For if the inheritance
comes by the law, it no longer comes by
promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a
promise.”
The law was only a temporary
covenant from Moses until John the Baptist.
Galatians 3:19, “Why then the law? It was
added because of transgressions, until the
offspring should come to whom the promise
had been made, and it was put in place
through angels by an intermediary” (c.f.
Luke 16:16)
If the law worked God
would have used it to save us.
Galatians 3:21, “Is the law then contrary to
the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a
law had been given that could give life,
then righteousness would indeed be by the
law.”
The law is a
prison that enslaves those who try to keep
it.
Galatians 3:22-23, “But the
Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,
so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ
might be given to those who believe. 23 Now
before faith came, we were held captive
under the law, imprisoned until the coming
faith would be revealed.”
The law was only as a temporary
guardian.
Galatians 3:24-25, “So
then, the law was our guardian until Christ
came, in order that we might be justified by
faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we
are no longer under a guardian,”
It is through faith in Christ
alone that we become part of God’s family.
Galatians 3:26-29, “for in Christ Jesus you
are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For
as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are
Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring,
heirs according to promise.”
Jesus was born under the law to
redeem us from the curse of the law.
Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of
time had come, God sent forth his Son, born
of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem
those who were under the law, so that we
might receive adoption as sons.”
The law is a slave master that we
are freed from when we trust is Christ for
our salvation.
Galatians 4:7,
“So you are no longer a slave, but a son,
and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Observing the Old Covenant’s
system of worship leads to legalism.
Galatians 4:10-11, “You observe days and
months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid
I may have labored over you in vain.”
Note: The New Testament explicitly
teaches that Sabbath-keeping along with all
of the other ceremonial requirements of the
Old Covenant Law are not required for
Christians who live under the New Covenant
(Matthew 11:28-30; 12:1-8; Acts 15:1-28;
Colossians 2:14-17; Galatians 4:10-11;
Romans 14:5-12; Ephesians 2:11-18;
2 Corinthians 3:3-11; Hebrews 3:7-4:13; 8:6-9:4; 10:23-25).
The false teachers were
flattering the Galatians, but only to
receive flattery back.
Galatians 4:16-18, “Have I then become your enemy by
telling you the truth? 17 They make much of
you, but for no good purpose. They want to
shut you out, that you may make much of
them. 18 It is always good to be made much
of for a good purpose, and not only when I
am present with you,”
Note: Paul was implying that the
false teachers in Galatia were repeating the
same error he had made before his
conversion. Their zeal for the law had
blinded from the truth that salvation and
freedom can only be found in Jesus Christ.
The bondage of the law and the
freedom found in Christ alone.
Galatians 4:21-31, “Tell me, you who desire
to be under the law, do you not listen to
the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham
had two sons, one by a slave woman and one
by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave
was born according to the flesh, while the
son of the free woman was born through
promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted
allegorically: these women are two
covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing
children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she
corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for
she is in slavery with her children. 26 But
the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our
mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O
barren one who does not bear; break forth
and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For
the children of the desolate one will be
more than those of the one who has a
husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac,
are children of promise. 29 But just as at
that time he who was born according to the
flesh persecuted him who was born according
to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But
what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the
slave woman and her son, for the son of the
slave woman shall not inherit with the son
of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are
not children of the slave but of the free
woman.”
Note:
“People are saved because of their faith in
Christ, not because of what they do. Paul
contrasted those who are enslaved to the law
(represented by Hagar, the slave wife) with
those who are free from the law (represented
by Sarah, the freeborn wife). Hagar’s abuse
of Sarah (Genesis 16:4) was like the
persecution that the Gentile Christians were
getting from the Judaizers, who insisted on
keeping the law in order to be saved.
Eventually Sarah triumphed because God kept
his promise to give her a son, just as those
who worship Christ in faith will also
triumph.” [Life Application Study Bible:
Galatians 4:21-31].
No one has
a right to tell you to keep any of the Old
Covenant laws, they were a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set
us free; stand firm therefore, and do not
submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
If you are trying to keep the law to
be saved, you must keep it perfectly or be
lost.
Galatians 5:2-3, “Look: I,
Paul, say to you that if you accept
circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage
to you. 3 I testify again to every man who
accepts circumcision that he is obligated to
keep the whole law.”
We fall
from grace when we try to live by the law.
Galatians 5:4, “You are severed from Christ,
you who would be justified by the law; you
have fallen away from grace.”
The Galatians detour into legalism
was a false gospel and contrary to God’s
will.
Galatians 5:7-8, “You were
running well. Who hindered you from obeying
the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him
who calls you.”
Paul
wished those men who insisted that we keep
the law would castrate themselves!
Galatians 5:12,
“I wish those agitators would go so far as
to castrate themselves!” (NET)
Love fulfills the Law’s purpose.
Galatians 5:13-14,
“For you were called to freedom, brothers.
Only do not use your freedom as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love
serve one another. 14 For the whole law is
fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” (cf. Romans 13:8-10)
When we
are led by the Spirit we are no longer under
the law. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live
obedient lives apart for keeping the law!
Galatians 5:16-18, “But I say, walk by the
Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the
flesh are against the Spirit, and the
desires of the Spirit are against the flesh,
for these are opposed to each other, to keep
you from doing the things you want to do. 18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are
not under the law.”
When we
focus on keeping the law we are driven to
sin even more!
Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are
evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
I warn you, as I warned you before, that
those who do such things will not inherit
the kingdom of God.” (c.f. Romans 2:17-24; 7:1-6; 8:1-13; Philippians 1:6)
Note:
It is easy to think that if we just focus on
keeping the Ten Commandments we will be
saved, but the scriptures warn us that
whenever the law is preached, a veil lies
over the hearts of all those who would try
to live by it (2 Corinthians 3:1-17).
When we belong to Christ, the
passions and desires of our flesh that the
law produces is put to death.
Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law. 24 And those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If
we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in
step with the Spirit.”
Christians are under the New Covenant, law
of Christ. Love for God and our fellow man
is foundational principle upon which the
covenant is based.
Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any
transgression, you who are spiritual should
restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep
watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ.” (c.f. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Note:
In place of the Old Covenant Law, Christians
are told to focus on loving God and loving
others. If we obey those two commands, we
would be fulfilling everything God desires
of us. Christ freed us from the bondage to
the Old Covenant Law and instead calls on us
to love. 1 John 4:7-8 declares,
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love
is from God, and whoever loves has been born
of God and knows God. Anyone who does not
love does not know God, because God is
love.” Then 1 John 5:3 continues, “This is
love for God: to obey His commands. And His
commands are not burdensome.”
How we live our lives matters to God
and our fellow man.
Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God is not
mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he
also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own
flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,
but the one who sows to the Spirit will from
the Spirit reap eternal life.”
“Sow a thought, reap an act.
Sow an act,
reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a
character.
Sow a character, reap a
destiny.”
Actions have consequences.
People either follow the fleshly desires and
reap destruction, or they follow God’s
Spirit and reap eternal life. Punishment for
sin will certainly come in this world or the
next (Proverbs 1:10-19).
Concern
for other believers should be a driving
motivation for the church.
Galatians 6:9-10, “And let us not grow weary
of doing good, for in due season we will
reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as
we have opportunity, let us do good to
everyone, and especially to those who are of
the household of faith.”
The law was given
to condemn us and show us our need for a
savior (Galatians 3:10; Romans 8:3; Acts 13:39; c.f. Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 10:5;
James 2:8-10). Only those who live by the
Spirit receive eternal life.
We are
either under the Old Covenant “law of sin
and death”, or, we are under the New
Covenant law of the life-giving Spirit
(Romans 8:1-4). The Old Covenant law does not,
and cannot ever bring victory over sin and
death because sin is actually magnified by
the law (Romans 5:20).
As a
Christ-follower, we can only experience
freedom from the law’s curse when we trust
that it is Christ alone who justifies us. It
is Christ, not the law, that gives us
freedom from the power of sin and death by
giving us a new nature.
The main
theme of the book of Galatians and the heart
of the gospel message is justification by
faith in Jesus Christ alone.
The Law was powerless to produce
righteousness in us (Galatians 3:21), and
could not deliver us from the penalty of
death (Galatians 3:10; cf. Romans 7:12-20;
Acts 13:38, 39). Only faith in Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior can do that (Romans 10:9-13).
When someone says you have
to keep the Old Covenant law they are
preaching the false gospel of
works-righteousness that Paul warned the
Galatians and the Romans about. We have been
set free from “the law of sin and death” to
live by God’s Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).
As a Christ-follower, we can only experience
freedom from the law’s curse when we trust
that it is Christ alone who justifies us. It
is Christ, not the law, that gives us
freedom from the power of sin and death by
giving us a new nature.
When we let
Christ live his life through us, he will
produce the fruit of the Spirit naturally in
our lives. All we have to do is believe that
Christ died for our sins and make him the
Lord and Savior of our lives.
Remember you have been set free from
the law to live by God’s Spirit.
Galatians 5:1 says, “For
freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm
therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke
of slavery.” (cf. Acts 15:10).
When
someone says you have to keep the Old
Covenant law they are preaching the false
gospel of legalism that Paul warned the
Galatians and the Romans about. Accepting
the false gospel of legalism can only lead
to death.
Stand firm and do not submit to them. We are
saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
alone!
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